Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga is on the radar of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission after the agency called her out over establishment of illegal offices.
In a latter dated October 19, the anti-graft agency said the governor's action to appoint 11 advisers in her office and that of her deputy is “illegal”.
The EACC's chief executive Twalib Mubarak said, in the letter addressed to Wanga, that the creation of arbitrary offices goes against the guidelines and the policy for establishment of offices in counties.
“To this end, the commission advises that the nominations for the governor's office be reviewed in liaison with the County Public Service Board to ensure that they comply with the law and the guidelines,” Mubarak said.
The commission warned that the governor has no mandate to individually create any position in her office without the involvement of the board.
Mubarak said the governor is required to identify the people suited for positions available in her office and forward the details to the board for regularisation.
The EACC said that even in situations where the board is involved, no position can be established beyond what is provided for in the County Governments Act, 2012.
The law places the powers to establish or abolish a position in the county government exclusively on the board.
In 2013, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and the Transitional Authority also issued guidelines on the establishment of offices in the governor's office that must be followed.
The regulations provide for the offices of legal adviser, political adviser, director governor's press service, economic adviser and chief of staff.
It also provides support staff to the governor's office, including personal assistant, personal secretary, cook, driver, messenger and gardener.
However, Wanga two weeks ago established additional offices in her office and that of her deputy Oyugi Magwanga, naming a number of advisers and more staff to the posts.
The governor picked key linchpins of her campaigns and political operatives to the new offices.
The governor named ODM leader Raila Odinga's aide and city lawyer Silas Jakakimba as her legal affairs adviser and former Gwassi South MCA Nicholas Ayieta as the political affairs adviser.
She picked Paul Onditi to be the Blue Economy adviser and Homa Bay Knut chairman Patrick Were as the education stakeholder’s management adviser.
Silas Rabah was named the governor's advisor for Youth Affairs, while Rachel Ogutu was picked to be the governor’s spokesperson.
Wanga also picked Kanyach Kachar chief Bernard Omuga as the security and intelligence adviser and named George Mboya as the political adviser in the deputy governor’s office.
Columnist Okech Kendo was named as adviser, climate change.
Wanga had also, through an Executive Order, created a liaison office where she said members of the public would be going when in need of service delivery.
They are Erick Jakyim who links youths, Suba BMU chairman William Onditi (Beach Management), Collins Kalee (Sports), Kennedy Dede (boda boda), Magdalien Owino (women) and Lucy Odwar (Persons with Disability).
Others are Daniel Onyango, Thomas Ayieko and Jared Omollo who will work at the governor delivery unit.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
